Centrifugal separator.



.W. PRESTON & G. M. DUFPIE.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED 00T.5.1907.

Patented Apr. 2o, 1909.

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'A 918,592. Patented A111120, 1909.

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j UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

WILLIAM A. PRESTON AND GEORGE M. DUFIE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Application led October 5, 1907. Serial No. 896,050.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. PRES- TON and GEORGE aM. DUFFIE, citizens of the United States. of America, residing at Detroit, in the country of 'Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Centrifugal Separators, of which the following is a specification, reference'being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to centrifugal separators,and has more particular reference to the means employed for mounting and driving the bowl.

It is the object of the invention to obtain an automatically balancing mechanism for the bowl arid,further, to lessen the effort necessary in .overcoming the inertia of the bowl when the machine is started.

AWith these objects in view, the invention consists'inthe novel construct-ion as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings-Figure l is a vertical central section through a portion of the bowl and its drive mechanism; Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a modification; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View 'of the complete machine.

. In the opera-tion of centrifugal separators, which are driven at high angular velocity, it is essential that the revolving part should be accurately balanced to bring the center of the mass as 'near as possible into alinemeiit with the axis of theispindle. The operation of balancing'is a delicate and difcult one and at best is only approximately correct. We liaveftherefore provided a' construction in which the balancing of the bowl is accomplishedautomatically and ,'which, when once in balance, is locked to retain this adjustinent during the continued rotation of the bowl. Where centrifugal separators are liandfd-rive the required velocity can only be obtained y a step-up gearing, which requires, for the overcoming of the inertia of the bowl in starting, a considerable eifort on the part of the operator. "When, however, the required velocity is attained it ina be maintained with comparativelyl little e fort. It is a further object of our invention to avoid ythe fatigue due to the starting of the bowl by providing means for gradually accelerating the rotation thereof, while the drive mechanism is actuated at a uniform speed.` To this end we have provided a friction drive operative when the machine is first started, together with means for positively coupling the drive mechanism to the bowl when full velocity is attained.

With the construction as shown, A is the bowl and B the drivin the spindle. In addition to this couplinlg` there is provided a su portinobearing spindle therefor.: The bowl is connected with the spindle bya for the bowl, which limits the a ustment of the universal coupling and hol s the vbowl in a substantial vertical position. Thus, in

the starting of the machine, tlie'b'owl, which is only frictionally driven through 'the medium of the universal coupling, is permitted to lag behind, the rotation of the spindle being gradually accelerated until full velocity is attained. During .this acceleration, the whole will gradually assume a 4position where it rotates about its true center of mass, the universal joint permitting of this adjustment,'and as aconsequence the bowl is automatically balanced. As soon as the vbowl is brought into balance, and is driven at the required velocity, it is desirable to positively couple it to the driving spindle. This, as shown, is accomplished by "an automatic mechanism comprising weighted arms E carried by the revolving mechanism, and which are thrown out by centrifugal action, to operate the' positively coupling clutch. vWe positively arrange the arms E upon the spindle, to which they may be attached by suitable means, such as the collar F, having ivot bearings G for the arms. TheI clutch! D and is frictionally locked thereto in said i balanced position and kept ythere frictionally against any further effort on the part of the weighted arms E. To this end, the ball H of the coupling C is secured to a shank I telescopically engaging a tubular portion J of the spindle` and sup ortedf at its lower end upon' a spring K. t the lower end of this shank are formed bearings L with which inwardly projecting vfingers Mk on the weighted arms engage, said fmgers passing Vthrough slots bl in the tube J. The construction just described is such that nor mally the ,s spring l, gagcmcnt w is pressed upward by the to told the bowl out of enniber D, but as soon e thrown outward by tingers M will draw ne until the bowl is fitli the member D,

s ',llustrated in ig.

l 1 ds across the entire boU I .d has a concave bearing y forengaging a convex V Y. cowl. rlhese surfaces G engageable vith each other in c. ions of angular adjustment e bowl, which permits said true center of rotation and YWd to the member D in this lustment. ln the construcin Fig. 2, the member D is nster and is of substantially iorm, having a concave surface t), which is substantially concentric with the ball H. The ball is secured in a socket upon the bowl, having a cap member R which has a conv I i; outer surface l5 also concentric with the ball. hus i.vl""evcr adjustment is given to the bowl in rr ation to the spindle, the surface will always be engageable with the surface lilith the ci operation t? 'position of lesser spherical as described in is dr ien through the e drive mechanism comcranlr T and suitable ite l crank and the .iai movement, .y 'ed by resting Y, will permit the spindle to 'otate at higher velocity, but thelfrictional cneugeme; between the ball and its socket will constantly accelerate the bowl. At, the same time, the rotation of the spindle will throw into operation the centrifugal arms lil, which will draw downward the shank I until a positive coupling is eected between the bowl andthe spindle Thus the twofold object is accon'iplished, first, of automatically bringing the bowl into balance, and secondly, of limiting the effort necessary to start the machine.

lilhat we claim as our invention is:

l. ln a centrifugal separator, the combination with a re foluble bowl, of an independentif,Y revoluble spindle supporting the same and universali;7 pivoted thereto, and automatic means for locking said bowl and spindle when revolving at a predetermined speed to cause them to rotate together.

2, ln a. centrifugal separator, the combination with a rei/'clubic bowl and an inde/ pendently revoluble spindle having a frictraction l i l l l l I l l l l l l i l E, l l

f l l l' tional engagement therewith, of centrifugal means for automatically,locking said bowl and spindle to rotate together when a pre determined velocity is acquired.

in a centrifugal separator, the combination with a revoluble spindle, of a bowl coupled to said spindle by a universal joint, which joint permits said bowl to find its true axis of rotation, and means operating automatically upon the acquirem'ent of a predetermined velocity for effecting a rigid coupling between said bowl and said spindle.

a. In a centrifugal separator, the combination ofa bowl and a vertical spindle to which said bowl is connected, said connection permitting the bowl to lind its true axis ot' rotation, of a drive mechanism for said `spindle including a step-up gear train, a slip coupling between said spindle and bowl permitting the latter to lag in the starting of the machine, and means for locking said coupling when predetermined velocity l is acquired.

5. ln a centrifugal separator, the combination of a bowl and a -vertical spindle on which said bowl is mounted, a ball and socket coupling between said bowl and spindle permitting of independent rotation and angular adjustment, a bearing upon said spindle beneath said coupling, a cooperating bearing on the bowl,'and means for drawing said cooperating bearing into contact to lock the spindle to the bowl.

6. The combination with a revoluble spindle, of a member coupled to said spindle by a universal joint, which joint permits said member to tind its true axis of rotation, and means operating' automatically upon; the acquireinent of a predetermined velocity for effecting a rigid coupling between said niember and spindle.

7. The combination with a revoluble member and a vertical member is mounted, a ball and socket coupling between said member and spindle permitting of independent rotation and angular adjustment, a l spindle beneath said coupling, a coperatng bearing upon said revoluble member and means for drawing said cooperating bearing into contact to lock the spindle and revoluble member.

bination of a bowl, a shank telescopically engaging said spindle and having a universal coupling with said bowl, a bearing fixed upon said spindle beneath said bowl and means for drawing downward said shank to engage the bowl with said fixed bearing upon the spindle.

9. In a centrifugal separator, the combination with-a bowl, of a vertical spindle having a tubular upper end and. an enlarged bearing upon said l 8. In a centrifugal separator, the Acom-v adrive spindle therefor,

bearing for the bowl thozrooxn' a sl'mnli tolol ln testimony whereof we affix ont signusco ically engavfng the tubular portion of turcs in presence of two witnesses.

sai spindle a Dall andv socket coupinv bc- A w twen `said shank and "bowl, a sprintf; for ralslng sald shank to hold the' bowl out of T J J' n contact with said enlarged bearing and cen- Witnesses:

trfugal means for drawing downward Said NnLLln KlNsnLLA,

.'shank to rest the bowl on said bearing. J AMES P. BARRY. 

